Shafie admitted he did not expect Sen to quit the party but nonetheless was told by Upko acting president Wilfred Madius Tangau that Sen’s resignation would not hamper the party’s progress.
“I’ve been in touch with the acting president and he said the issue (with Sen) has been there before … there is an internal issue.
“I was also taken (by surprise) when I heard the news (but) according to Tangau, it doesn’t have any serious impact on the party itself,” he told reporters after visiting victims of the Kg Cenderamata II fire here today.
The Parti Warisan Sabah president said he told Tangau, who is also deputy chief minister, that he was there to provide support.
“I told him that if there’s anything I can do to help him, I will do, no problem. Because they are our members anyway. Upko and Pakatan Harapan (PKR and DAP) are part of the Warisan-led government, so we will help where we can,” Shafie said.
Sen submitted his resignation letter on Monday, saying he was relinquishing all his party posts and leaving Upko.
However, he has declined to reveal the reason for his resignation and his future plans.
The Borneo Post quoted Upko treasurer-general Marcus Mojigoh as saying the recent resignation of a few party members was worrying and that he had information more were considering quitting as well.
Mojigoh claimed the resignations, including that of Supreme Council member Suip Saniman and of members from his own Putatan division, were just the tip of the iceberg.
However, he said these were “minor cracks” in Upko’s foundation and that the party was still solid.